Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery

Working through a very small axillary incision, BIDMC surgeons repair and replace the mitral valve. Currently, mitral valve surgery often is done through a 1.5- to 2-inch incision under the right armpit, an approach pioneered at BIDMC. Results over three years show that efficacy is similar to the open procedure - but with a less painful incision, shorter length of stay, faster recovery (and early return to work) and better cosmetic outcome. Using a combination of state-of-the-art technology and newly developed (at BIDMC) minimally invasive devices, this type of surgery has become routine at BIDMC.